Carnival Corporation & plc, the world’s largest cruise company, today celebrated the 10th anniversary of its Amber Cove Cruise Center in the Dominican Republic, marking a decade of partnership, progress and community pride in the Puerto Plata region. Opened in 2015, Amber Cove ushered in a new era of tourism for the country’s north coast, reestablishing the region as a premier destination for cruise travel after more than three decades without regular cruise ship visits.
The milestone was commemorated with an event at the port, followed by a lunch on board Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras, which included recognition of long-standing partners who have helped make the port’s success possible over the past decade. Many esteemed local officials, community representatives, business partners, employees and Carnival Corporation executives were in attendance, including Juan Fernández and Damian Rudich, Vice Presidents of Operational Strategy, Carnival Corporation; Vicky Rey, Vice President of Government Relations, Carnival Corporation; Jesús Méndez, Regional Port Director, Carnival Corporation; Sharon Mei, General Manager, Amber Cove; Jeff Rannik, President of Grupo Rannik and Local Partner and, Jaak Rannik, Vice President of Grupo Rannik.
Local dignitaries in attendance also includedJean Luis Rodríguez, Executive Director of the Dominican Port Authority (APORDOM); Claritza Rochtte Peralta de Senior, Governor of Puerto Plata Province; and Monseñor Julio César Corniel Amaro, representative of the Catholic Church and Bishop of the Diocese of Puerto Plata.
Carnival Corporation also unveiled a refreshed logo for Amber Cove. The new design represents a vibrant look toward the future while honoring a decade of shared success with the local community.
“Amber Cove represents the power of collaboration and community,” saidVicky Rey, Vice President of Government Relations for Carnival Corporation.“As the company marks its 10-year milestone, the celebration honors not just a port but a partnership built with and for the people of Puerto Plata. Over the past decade, this destination has become a symbol of pride, driving opportunity, supporting families, and welcoming guests from around the world. This milestone is about the people who have made Amber Cove what it is today, and we’re excited for what the next decade will bring.”
Carnival Corporation also announced a donation of$10,000 to Fundación Maimón Avanza, represented at the event byPresident Jathanael Hurtado TejadaandSocial Manager Randy Miguel Rumaldo,in support of its2026 Community Workshops Program “Maimón Avanza.” The initiative will include35 training workshopsin entrepreneurship, leadership, values, technology, and English for tourism, benefiting more than700 residents of Maimón.
The contribution reflects the company’s continued commitment to education, opportunity, and community development in Maimón.
“Thanks to Amber Cove and Carnival Corporation’s ongoing investment in Puerto Plata, more and more visitors have discovered the talent and creativity that exists in our community,” said Eladio Martínez, representative of the Association of Artisans of Maimón, a local cooperative that operates at the cruise center, showcasing and selling handmade crafts created by Maimón’s artisans.
“Each day, we have the opportunity to share a piece of Puerto Plata’s culture with cruise guests from around the world, and that has helped small businesses like ours grow and thrive.”
Located in the heart of the Dominican Republic’s north coast, just outside the historic center of Puerto Plata, Amber Cove Cruise Center serves as a vital gateway connecting the Dominican Republic’s north coast to the global cruise industry. Since opening in 2015, the 25-acre port has welcomed approximately seven million visitors, with eight Carnival Corporation cruise brands calling over the past decade, fueling economic growth, promoting sustainable tourism, and creating valuable opportunities for local businesses.
This includes generating more than 1,100 direct and indirect jobs for the local community, with approximately 60% of its employees living in Maimón, while creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs, artisans, tour operators and vendors. In addition, environmental practices continue to be implemented into the port’s daily operations to help power most of its needs, including a solar panel system supplying up to 80% of the port’s energy demand and a reverse osmosis plant that produces more than half of its potable water.
Amber Cove also supports local environmental and educational initiatives, including the Maimón Basura Cero program — an effort that promotes responsible waste management and community engagement to foster a more sustainable future for Puerto Plata.
The popular cruise port features restaurants, shops, bars, pools, a zipline, waterfront and hilltop cabanas, and shore excursion opportunities, such as snorkeling and waterfall adventures. Five of the company’s cruise lines —Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard, and Princess Cruises— regularly visit the cruise port, which accounted for more than one million visits in 2024.
Amber Cove is part of Carnival Corporation’s unrivaled portfolio of exclusive destinations in the Caribbean, which includes Isla Tropicale in Honduras, Puerta Maya in Mexico, Grand Turk Cruise Center in Turks & Caicos, and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, Princess Cays and Celebration Key in The Bahamas. Together, these seven Caribbean destinations are projected to welcome over eight million guests in 2026, helping drive shared prosperity and sustainable tourism throughout the region.
